ANTIC: Coal a reality, not the only possible future

Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic said on Friday, August 5, that the usage of coal was a reality in Serbia, as 70% of energy came from thermal power plants, but he also expressed hope that it wouldn’t be the only energy source in the future.

– There is no way to use coal in a perfectly responsible manner, but we do it as responsibly as we can. Coal is our reality, but we hope that it won’t be our future and that is something we will all be working on – the minister said.

Antic emphasized that the state’s priority was to bring the legislature in line with the European rules regarding the use of coal, to which end Serbia had already implemented the Large Combustion Plants Directive, which would soon be followed by the Industrial Emission Directive.

– We impose tasks on ourselves and define goals regarding the more quality and more rational use of coal – Antic said and added that electro-filters had been installed on 13 large units and that the thermal power plant Morava would significantly reduce the amount of powdery byproducts.

The minister also mentioned that the preparations for the construction of a new 350 MW thermal power plant in Kostolac had started.

– We are still in the initial phase, and it is our obligation and goal to carry out everything in line with the highest environmental protection standards. We produce 70% of energy in thermal power plants, and coal makes up 99% of our total energy reserves. Our goals are connected to investments in the introduction of standards which will secure the operation of thermal power plants in line with environmental directives – Antic said.

He pointed out the EUR 200 million had been invested in environmental protection in about three years and that EUR 700 to 900 million would be invested in the years to come.

Antic also announced that the state would more decisively focus on renewable energy sources and noted that he was proud that he had been a minister in the government which had made crucial changes to that end.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Aleksandar Antic

coal production

Large Combustion Plants Directive

electro filters

thermal power plant Morava

renewable energy sources

RES